THIS WEEKEND'S GOSPEL: All Souls

"Come to me, all you who labour and are overburdened, and I will give you rest"(Matthew 11:25-30)

The following is taken from Fr Richard Leonard's homily on this Sunday's gospel and is printed here, with kind permission. Fr Richard Leonard SJ is the author of Preaching to the Converted, Paulist Press, New York, 2006

All Souls Day has it roots in the sixth century Benedictine tradition of praying to the dead. It was a way of recognising the human bonds which go beyond death. By the tenth century this feast was about praying for the dead, that they might know the merciful love of God.

It is appropriate today for us to think about what a soul is. In an increasingly secular society it's interesting to note that the word 'soul' persists in ordinary conversation. Many non-religious people use this most religious of terms to describe another person. We often hear how others are lonely, distressed, or lost souls. It can be said that someone has a 'beautiful soul' or that a piece of music, a painting or other work of art 'stirred my soul'. We describe mellow jazz as 'soulful' and still alert others to distress by an SOS, 'save our souls'. These uses of the word reinforce St Thomas Aquinas' teaching that the soul makes us human, and sets us apart from other animals.

Nearly all the great religions of the world believe in a soul, or its equivalent - something that survives the annihilation of the body in death. I have come to the opinion that whatever else might characterise the soul, memory is an integral part of it.

I have done several funerals of people who have suffered from Alzheimer's disease. These are rarely very sad occasions because the family invariably says that they 'lost' their loved one months or years before. Why? Because increasingly their loved one couldn't remember anyone or anything. We hold to caring for the body from the womb to the tomb, because we believe that human dignity must always be respected. There are now theories about how even the memories of the circumstances of our conception and birth have a bearing on the way we live our lives. It is also apparent that even when people seem to have lost their memory, or are unconscious, that there is some recognition of some things at a very deep level.

Soul as memory means that when I meet God face to face, I will remember who I am and how I lived, and God will remember me. It's also a comfort for us to think that we will be reunited with those we have loved who have died before us, because we remember each other.

COMMUNITY MASS

It is a blessing for our College community to gather and celebrate the Eucharist each Friday morning in term time. All are welcome: newcomers and regulars; staff, parents and students. Next Friday, 7th November our celebration will be led by Year 10 students, and families of Year 10 students are particularly welcome.

Time - 8:00am start; 8:30 finish.

Venue - Chapel

The month of November is the time when our Church traditionally honours and prays for our deceased loved ones. There will be a 'Book of the Dead' set up in the College Chapel and families are invited to in the names of their loved ones who have died - and we will particularly remember them at our Masses during November.